7. Isiah Thomas

Even if you took away every single playoff game, Thomas participated in except Game 6 of the 1988 Finals, he would still be on this list. Fighting off a severely sprained ankle, Thomas hobbled around the L.A. Forum floor and scored a Finals record 25 points in the third quarter. With his Pistons on the verge of a title, Thomas finished with 43 points, eight assists, and six steals, but a controversial foul call at the end gave the Lakers a win and the momentum necessary to capture the title in the deciding Game 7. Thomas had several other huge playoff games, including a dominant performance against Portland in the 1990 Finals for which he won MVP, but his 1988 effort will forever be his lasting NBA legacy.